Pick one: Kobe or LeBron?

Thursday

Feb 21, 2013 at 10:18 AM

Chris SingletonStaff Writer

The NBA All-Star game featured many big highlights on Sunday night.In a game featuring high-flying dunks, deep 3-pointers, passes between opposing players legs and every thing in between, the Western Conference All-Stars picked up a 143-138 win over the Eastern Conference All-Stars in Houston. However, there was one moment late in the game that still has everyone talking days later.In the fourth quarter, two of the best players of this generation in Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and Miami Heat star LeBron James squared off in a one-on-one battle. With the score close late in the game, LeBron tried to carry his team back, but Kobe wouldn’t let him.The Lakers star blocked two of LeBron’s shots in the final minutes, thwarting any chances of a comeback by the East team. Kobe’s big defensive plays has helped fuel a long-running debate on which player is the biggest star in the league today.It was pretty much the talk of All-Star weekend in Houston, especially after recently-turned 50-year-old basketball legend Michael Jordan said he would prefer Kobe over LeBron in a interview last week. Jordan said he would pick Kobe because of his five championship rings compared to LeBron’s one.Either way, both players are two of the best this league has ever seen. It is a topic worthy of discussion. LeBron is fresh off his first championship season, and he is the most dominate player in the game today. He is having probably the best season of his career so far as he recently became the first player in NBA history to go six straight games with a 30-plus-point average while shooting at least 60 percent.LeBron is playing so well right now that he is drawing comparisons to Jordan as the greatest player ever. He has been pretty much unstoppable, that is until Kobe swatted away two of his shots at the All-Star game.Everyone knows the All-Star games are meaningless, but for an aging player like 34-year-old Kobe, it was an opportunity to show he can still play with today’s younger stars. The way he locked up LeBron on defense proved he still deserves praise as one of the game’s best. Kobe isn’t as physical intimidating as LeBron, but he is a true student of the game with an undying competitive spirit.I’ve always enjoyed watching both players, and it is really hard to pick one over the other. If I had to choose, I would pick LeBron over Kobe, mostly because the Miami star is a physical specimen who could play any position on the court and look good while doing it.That is no disrespect for Kobe. His accomplishments stand out, and he will always be a favorite of mine.There will always be endless discussions on which player is the best, but unlike most fans, I don’t like wasting time arguing or making comparisons.I just think everyone should sit back and enjoy watching two incredible players play. Both Kobe and LeBron are great players in their own ways. They each bring something special to the table. I’m just happy to be here and see it all happen.

Staff writer Chris Singleton can be reached at 857-2213 or 448-1200 ext. 2213 or chris.singleton@houmatoday.com.